I said the same. He never, ever, ever gets his tactics right from the start of the game and some of their defending has been suicidal.
Does anyone still think that Modders would want to go to that shambles???Only for the money and i don't think he is that mercenary.
Even if he won't admit it, I reckon deep down he's extremely happy he's stayed with us at the moment.
I was thinking the same thing Schteff. It dawned on me that rarely have we seen a Chelsea side who failed so often to boss a game from its OUTSET, thereby requiring wholesale changes at HT regularly. Whilst AVB has to be commended, in that he usually gets those changes spot on, the question has to be asked: Why the hell doesn't he just start like that in the first place?!? I think its a case of trying too much too soon from a promising, but ultimately inexperienced (especially at a level as high as the EPL) and uncertain manager. I'd like to say give him time to settle in, another transfer window to work with etc, but I don't think the words "time" and "Abramovich" can be mentioned in the same sentence any higher than GSCE English. It's crucial for us that teams take as many points off the chavs as poss between now and January, when Abramovich will undoubtedly paper over the cracks with...bank notes. If this happens,I genuinely don't see a team better placed for 3rd than us.
For the life of me i can't understand AVBs' tactics with the players he's got.Playing with such a high line you need pace in abundance,something which the Chelsea defence doesn't have.Why he doesn't play Alex is another very odd tactic,the only 2 games they've kept a clean sheet he played in.I really don't think he has enough experience at this level and i can't see a certain Russian giving him time to get Chelsea to play the way he wants.Could this have been a huge mistake?Will Abramovich keep bank rolling a team that needs a complete overhaul?Only time will tell or will Chelsea lose their "Sugar Daddy"?
That's the problem though, Pat. I think AVB's style and direction (open, flowing and exciting football) that he wants to take the team in are admirable- certainly easier on the eye than some of Mourinho's preferences. However, it is quite clear that to achieve this, he'll need to bring in at least another 3-4 top notch players in Jan. A quality CB to replace the ever-dwindling Terry, 2 more midfielders of the same quality as Mata to replace Essien, Obi, Lampard, in fact the whole bunch! And a striker as good as Torres is SUPPOSED to be but apparently isn't. Bearing in mind: -How much that'll cost Abramovich -How inflated Jan prices tend to be -How much he wasted on flops like Torres (fair enough, it was his choice all along!) -How little sell-on value their pensioners have (Lampard, Drogba, Terry, Cech, Essien, Anelka etc) Is Abramovich's purse really bottomless? He definitely hasn't got anything like the funds of the Mansours at City.... If I was him, I'd abandon ship (a very expensive yacht apparently moored somewhere near Monaco).
The most worrying thing for me would be that Lucas and Adam both looked extremely comfortable against Chelsea's midfield. They were utterly outclassed and blown away at WHL. Chelsea seem to have lost their mystique and their aura of invulnerability. They used to win a lot of games by being virtually impossible to score against. Go 1-0 up and the other side's head would go down.
It can't be good for Chelsea that Cech is now wearing a mask plus headgear, while neither goal was down to him, except maybe the poor pass for the first one, he isn't the imposing figure he once was. I was hoping for a Chelsea win, but not at all disappointed that they lost 3rd place now beckons BUT we still have to win Monday's game first. I still can't bring myself to believe we'll finish above Chelsea, but rationally, looking at their performances and ours, we can. The players really have to believe now, and to finish top 4 above Arsenal and/or Chelsea would be a tremendous achievement, given the Prem years. For sure we have a good chance, but can we turn hopes into sufficient points, tough, tough, tough.
The Chavs have to overhaul the 'spine' of their team....nightmare!, on the other hand, its self inflicted for hanging onto them for so long, it had to happen one day, with Cech, Terry, Fatty, and Drog, all of a similar age, you could even add Essien to that list really, I doubt we'll see the same player again there. AVB nor any other manager is going to find a quick cure for that, I can't believe RA doesn't know this.
Have to agree about Cech GH10, you want your goalkeeper to be a big invulnerable beast, especially when things are against you. Not somebody who is practically wearing a crash helmet in case the opposition bumps into him. This is a big problem with Gomes, he looks like he is going to cry, especially after a making ricket, instead of giving off an aura of self-belief. I was disappointed that Chelsea never gave LFC more of a game, and hope that this malaise lasts until we play them. Liverpool grow in confidence, but you wonder if they have quite enough; When really pushed they look a completely different side. As for third, I think it is something to aim for but with the deep pockets of the other clubs, things could change in January. As the cliche goes, we have to take it one game at a time; Personally I can't remember a period when we were stronger and would fancy getting something from most encounters, except maybe City.
Fair comments Chrpy Chelsea may be crumbling, but I still worry they'll buy and regroup in January, beating them in December would be massive and help us no end. I'd still take 4th now if offered, and I'm very wary of both Arsenal and Chelsea. I think the fact we've finished above Liverpool two seasons in a row, gives me hope we'll continue that run, hope though not massive confidence. We'll know a lot more after tonight though, it's not a must-win, but at the same time, it kind of is. Excitement is the air, that's for sure
AVB has thus far got a lot of his tactics wrong and add that to the fact that the Chelsea squad in general are just not the bunch that were once feared, it's not looking too great for them at the moment by their standards. Drogba - Past it. Terry - always been made to look better than what he is, it was either having Makelele/ Essien in front doing the dirty work or partnering a world class centre back like Carvahlo at the time that made him look just as good. Lampard - Still producing the goods at times, though he's nowhere near the player that it's fair to say made him one of the best in the world in his role. Cech - Similar to Terry, when you've got players in front of you like Essien, Makelele and Carvahlo, all the rare saves he did have to make it made him look better than he is, good keeper by all standards but when people/ media put him on par with the likes of Casillas/ Buffon/ Van Der Sar I found it disrespectful to them. Lets not forget Cech has made some very bad clangers over the years, yet because Chelsea still managed to end up winning the game, his clangers were often forgotten where as when the likes of Gomes (although I'm very glad we have Friedal for these exact reasons) made equally as bad ones but eventually cost us as we were never able to recover. Cole - Still one of the best left backs in the world but at 30, will there be many more years where he's considered so highly? Torres - Luiz - Far too irrational for a centre back, unless he learns to calm his temper and stop trying to dribble out from the back, he will never become a top Premier League centre back in my opinion. Mata (and perhaps Sturridge if they give him more game time... So let's hope not ) is their shining light at the moment for them. Echoing what I think Pat said yesterday (I think it was Pat!) re Abramovich, what if he becomes uninterested and doesn't want to invest again in a team that in fairness, probably won't win much now Man City and their Sheikh is on the scene. He made it clear that he always wanted the CL and at the moment they are rank outsiders, their best chance was in the Mourinho era where they had a team that was arguably the best in Europe and so for now to have a team that in fairness, are pretty much fighting just for a Champions League place rather than for the league title, it wouldn't surprise me if he just cut his losses and moved on. Don't get me wrong I'm saying this all from a worse case scenario and things could change rapidly but early signs suggest it could be bad times for the West Londoners - Not that I'm complaining
At least they aren't panicking http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/102213-****-off-AVB(and-take-liability-Luiz-with-you)
We simply must not lose. I don't think I could take the stick from the Mickey Mousers if we lost. Their arrogance has not abated during their time spent in the wastelands outside the top 5. Imagine what they would be like if they managed to claw their way back in! It simply does not bear thinking about.
Their underlings are once again linking Cheikh Tiote with a move. Half a dozen more than their team might be less of a shambles!
Yeah I'm with you on this HIAG. Tonight is a must win, not just for the obvious Spurs reasons but I work with a number of scousers... Wait let me re-phrase, I work with London/ Essex based Liverpool fans who don'st stop banging on about how great they are now even without Gerrard and Carragher featuring much. I've never minded Liverpool as a club but hearing some of the guys talk absoulte b*llocks is seriously forcing me to change my view on them. Liverpool are a good side no doubt but the way they talk you'd think it was about Barca at their peak!
No accounting for taste I suppose. Not sure I am ready to tell them that we are the top team in london just yet. The phrase hostage to fortune springs to mind!
